DEPARTMENT: Transportation
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Amend Agreement With Sprint Communications Company L.P. For Relocation Of Fiber On County State Aid Highway 86 In Castle Rock, Eureka, Greenvale And Waterford Townships, County Project 86-34
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize amendment of Contract C0033615, utility reimbursement agreement with Sprint Communications Company L.P. for the relocation of fiber optic cable under County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 86, County Project (CP) 86-34 in Castle Rock, Eureka, Greenvale, and Waterford Townships.
SUMMARY
To provide a safe and efficient transportation system, Dakota County is proceeding with CP 86-34. County Project (CP) 86-34 is the reconstruction of CSAH 86 (280th Street West) as an undivided two-lane highway with shoulders and turn lanes at all public road intersections from CSAH 23 (Galaxie Avenue) to Trunk Highway (TH) 3 (Attachment: Location Map). Construction started during the summer of 2022 and is expected to be complete fall 2023.
During the design of CP 86-34, staff worked with Sprint Communications Company L.P. to coordinate the relocation of their facility due to a conflict with their existing fiber optic cable that parallels the Canadian Pacific (CP) owned Albert Lea Subdivision MP 319.57 railroad tracks within their own easement. County Project 86-34 is replacing the railroad bridge and lowering CSAH 86 in that location to obtain the required vertical clearance and widen the roadway to account for turn lanes. This causes a conflict with Sprint’s existing fiber optic cable. By Resolution No. 21-278 (May 18, 2021), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized staff to enter into a reimbursement agreement (Attachment: Contract C0033615) with Sprint Communications Company L.P. to complete their relocation for $80,591.96.
During construction, Union Pacific halted Sprint Communications Company L.P.’s relocation effort due to the proximity and depth of Sprint Communications Company L.P.’s excavations within the track embankment. Sprint Communications Company L.P. was required to install approximately 2600-feet of new fiber optic cable within their existing easement to meet Union Pacific's requirements. The original reimbursement agreement accounted for 300-feet of cable.
Sprint Communications Company L.P. estimates that the cost to install the new facility, including engineering, materials, and construction, is $236,089.97. The previously executed contract C0033615 included a cost estimate of $80,591.96 for the adjustment of 300-feet of cable. The new estimate only reflects the new scope of utility relocation required to meet the requirements of Union Pacific, CP 86-34, and Sprint Communications Company L.P.’s needs to restore their fiber optic cable. No amount of the original $80,591.96 estimate was billed by Sprint Communiciations Company L.P.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends execution of a contract amendment for Contract C0033615, reimbursement agreement with Sprint Communications Company L.P. to increase the contract amount to $236,089.97 for fiber optic facility work associated with CP 86-34, CSAH 86 reconstruction.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The 2023 amended Transportation Capital Improvement Program includes a total project budget of $16,545,843 (Attachment: Financial Summary). There are sufficient funds remaining for this contract amendment.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Dakota County is the lead agency for County Project (CP) 86-34, which is the reconstruction of County State Aid Highway (CSAH) 86 from CSAH 23 (Galaxie Ave) to Trunk Highway (TH) 3 in Castle Rock, Eureka, Greenvale, and Waterford Townships; and
WHEREAS, Sprint Communications Company L.P. is operating a fiber optic line adjacent to the Canadian Pacific (CP) owned railroad within their own easement from CP that crosses CSAH 86; and
WHEREAS, County Project 86-34 includes the replacement of Canadian Pacific’s Albert Lea Subdivision MP 319.57 railroad bridge and subsequent lowering and widening of CSAH 86 at that location which requires the relocation of Sprint Communications Company L.P. fiber optic facility; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 21-278 (May 18, 2021), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized staff to enter into a reimbursement agreement (C0033615) with Sprint Communications Company L.P. for an amount of $80,591.96; and
WHEREAS, during the relocation of Sprint Communications Company L.P. fiber optic line, Union Pacific Railroad halted Sprint’s work as it didn’t conform with Union Pacific Railroad standards for excavations within existing track embankment; and
WHEREAS, Sprint Communications Company L.P. was responsible for all approvals from Union Pacific Railroad for their work associated with the relocation of their existing fiber optic line; and
WHEREAS, Sprint Communications Company L.P. worked with Union Pacific and Dakota County to prepare an updated plan that includes installing approximately 2600 feet of new fiber optic cable; and
WHEREAS, Sprint Communications Company L.P. estimates that the cost of installing approximately 2600 feet of fiber optic cable, including engineering, materials, and construction to be $236,089.97; and
WHEREAS, the work completed by Sprint Communications Company L.P. associated with the original contract amount of $80,591.96 will not be billed to Dakota County as the work stoppage required by Union Pacific was the responsibility of Sprint; and
WHEREAS, in order to proceed with construction, Dakota County must amend the agreement with Sprint Communications Company L.P. to identify costs and responsibilities associated with the relocation of the fiber optic facility; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends execution of an amendment to the reimbursement agreement with Sprint Communications Company L.P. for the relocation of their fiber optic facility under CSAH 86 and within their easement acquired from Canadian Pacific to proceed in an estimated amount of $236,089.97.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Physical Development Director to amend Contract C0033615, reimbursement agreement with Sprint Communications Company L.P. for the final design, materials, and construction of the relocation of the fiber optic facility, to increase the amount of the actual costs currently estimated to $236,089.97, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
21-278; 5/18/21
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Location Map
Attachment: Contract C0033615
Attachment: Financial Summary
BOARD GOALS
☐ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☒ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT LEVEL
☒ Inform and Listen ☐ Discuss ☐ Involve ☐ N/A
CONTACT
Department Head: Erin Laberee
Author: Jake Chapek